Battery Nash

Battery Nash (1904-1917) - Battery Nash was a reinforced concrete, Endicott Period 8 inch coastal gun battery on Fort Ward (2), Kitsap County, Washington. The battery was named in G.O. 194, 27 Dec 1904 after Brigadier General Francis Nash, Continental Army, who died 17 Oct 1777, of wounds, received in action at Germantown, Pennsylvania, 4 Oct 1777, during the Revolutionary War. Battery construction started in 1899, was completed in 1903, and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use on 18 Jan 1904 at a cost of $ 120,432.00. Deactivated in 1917. Battery Nash Gun Emplacement #2 Battery Nash Gun Emplacement #3 Battery Nash Gun Emplacement #1 Endicott Period (1890-1910) Part of the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound. Built to protect the Bremerton Navy Yard and the Rich Passage. Originally built as an Endicott Period concrete coastal gun battery with three 8" M1888 guns mounted on M1896 disappearing carriages. Battery Nash was a two-story battery with the guns on the upper level and the magazines and service rooms on the lower level. Each gun emplacement had an associated shot room, powder room, shell room, and hoist room below. In 1907 Taylor-Raymond back delivery electric motor driven hoists were installed and transferred for use on 28 Apr 1907. A 25 KW gasoline-driven power plant was installed next to emplacement #1 and transferred for use on 2 May 1910. Battery Nash Armament (edit list) Empl No Caliber Type Barrel Length Model Serial No Manufacturer Carriage Service Dates Notes 1 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888 6 West Point Disappearing, M1896, #36, Watertown 1904-1917 See note 1 2 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888 42 Watervliet Disappearing, M1896, #37, Watertown 1904-1917 See note 1 3 8" Rifle 278.5" M1888 2 West Point Disappearing, M1896, #38, Watertown 1904-1917 See note 1 Source: RCW Form 1, Sep 1925, Coast Defense Study Group, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 110-111, 216 Note 1: Guns transferred to Watervliet Dec 1917, carriages scrapped May 1918. CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA Battery Nash Plan World War I (1917-1918) The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. All three of the 8" Battery Nash guns were ordered dismounted for service abroad on 24 Aug 1917. The guns were then transferred to Watervliet Arsenal for modification to a mobile configuration on 31 Dec 1917. None of the guns were actually shipped overseas, they all remained stateside at various storage locations. All three of the carriages were scrapped in May 1918. Current Status On private property but visible from NE Point View Drive. No period guns or mounts in place. Location: Fort Ward, Kitsap County, Washington Maps & Images Lat: 47.575541 Long: -122.519188 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: Gun #1=172.15', Gun #2=172.19', Gun #3=172.21' GPS Locations: 47.575619, -122.519188 Battery Nash Sources: Links: CDSG Fortification ID: WA0049 - Battery Nash Visited: 18 Apr 2010